Hello all!
Thinking of picking up a RHD 1995 defender 110 csw 300tdi. I would be a first time rover owner here so be gentle on me lol.
What are they typically worth here in the states?
Anything specific I should be looking for when I go see it?
Body and all seems to be in good condition with new paint. Just light surface rust on frame. 220k miles.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated
Defenders are silly money in the USA. It isn't for me to say you shouldn't, it is your money. But in reality they probably aren't worth the money. When new they were a fairly cheap, very utility work truck. Prices have gone silly in the UK too, and frankly they aren't worth what people want for them here. And our prices are way more sensible than USA prices.
I'd have thought RHD in the USA would be a bit of a PITA. You'll want to check for rust and general condition. Chassis, footwells and bulkhead corners below the wind screen (shield) all rust. Trim can be tatty and likely suffer from wiring issues, usually dodgy earths.
They are simple and robust vehicles overall and easy and normally cheap to work on in the UK.
The Tdi is very unrefined and for USA roads very very very very very slow and did I say unrefined? Frankly you'd have to be completely mental to want to run a Tdi engine in the USA.
You'd be much better off buying a Jeep.
The Defender is good for utility, good payload and good tow rating (which Jeeps normally aren't), but you have plenty of big pickup trucks for doing this kind of thing. Defenders have a very very basic interior. They have their charm, hence the following. But do remember a Discovery 1 or Range Rover classic are 99% the same under the body. Same axles, drivetrain, chassis design, steering, etc etc. Only a wheelbase difference and the fact the body design and how it is mounted is different. Making a Disco/RR much more refined and comfortable.
As I say, its your money, so your choice. And yes, they look great. But on any rational level they make no sense spending stupid money on to get something that is slow, basic, unrefined, noisy and no more capable than a Wrangler off road.
Axles are also fairly weak by USA standards, think Dana 30/35 or less. Stock tyres can break things and anything over 33's could be risky. You can upgrade the axles, which will be expensive in the USA, but still limited to around 35's and you'll need to drive with kindness.
Gearboxes are ok, but there is an entire industry in the UK that rebuilds them. Transfer box is good, but can wear over time.
Of course you could swap out the axles, transmission and engine for stronger parts like some Dana 44's and a Chevy LS or even swap a JK drivetrain over to one. But at this point, you have to ask if it is really worth having a Land Rover at all, as you'll have so little left.
